Quality of life during radiotherapy for rectal cancer
- PMID: 12628837
- DOI: 10.1016/s0959-8049(02)00741-4
Quality of life during radiotherapy for rectal cancer
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQL) during (neo)adjuvant radiotherapy for rectal cancer. Patients receiving pelvic radiotherapy 50 Gy for rectal cancer, were studied prospectively (n=42). The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) questionnaires quality of life-core 30 QLQ-C30 and QLQ-CR38 and a 5-day symptom diary were completed at the start and end of radiotherapy and 4-6 weeks later. At the end of radiotherapy, mean scores of diarrhoea, fatigue and appetite loss had significantly increased (P<0.01) compared with pretreatment scores, but this was not observed for scores for nausea or pain. At the end of radiotherapy, diarrhoea, fatigue, appetite loss, physical function, social function and global quality of life (QL) were significantly worse than the population-based norms. 64% of the patients reported an increase in fatigue and 52% an increase in diarrhoea during radiotherapy. HRQL scores had returned to pre-treatment levels 4-6 weeks after radiotherapy. Thus, diarrhoea, fatigue and appetite loss increased transiently during pelvic radiotherapy.
Similar articles
-
Long-term quality of life in patients with rectal cancer treated with preoperative (chemo)-radiotherapy within a randomized trial.Cancer Radiother. 2010 Oct;14(6-7):530-4. doi: 10.1016/j.canrad.2010.06.017. Epub 2010 Aug 24. Cancer Radiother. 2010. PMID: 20797891 Clinical Trial.
-
[Chronic radiation-induced rectal injury after adjuvant radiotherapy for pelvic malignant tumors: report based on a phase 3 randomized clinical trial].Zhonghua Wei Chang Wai Ke Za Zhi. 2021 Nov 25;24(11):962-968. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.cn441530-20210720-00292. Zhonghua Wei Chang Wai Ke Za Zhi. 2021. PMID: 34823296 Clinical Trial. Chinese.
-
The impact of radiotherapy on quality of life for cancer patients: a longitudinal study.Support Care Cancer. 2014 Sep;22(9):2479-87. doi: 10.1007/s00520-014-2235-y. Epub 2014 Apr 12. Support Care Cancer. 2014. PMID: 24728584
-
Radiotherapy-related fatigue.Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2002 Mar;41(3):317-25. doi: 10.1016/s1040-8428(01)00143-3. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2002. PMID: 11880207 Review.
-
Radiotherapy-related fatigue: how to assess and how to treat the symptom. A commentary.Tumori. 2001 May-Jun;87(3):147-51. doi: 10.1177/030089160108700308. Tumori. 2001. PMID: 11504369 Review.
Cited by
-
From a Clustering of Adverse Symptoms after Colorectal Cancer Therapy to Chronic Fatigue and Low Ability to Work: A Cohort Study Analysis with 3 Months of Follow-Up.Cancers (Basel). 2024 Jan 1;16(1):202. doi: 10.3390/cancers16010202. Cancers (Basel). 2024. PMID: 38201629 Free PMC article.
-
Health-related quality of life, faecal continence and bowel function in rectal cancer patients after chemoradiotherapy followed by radical surgery.Support Care Cancer. 2010 May;18(5):601-8. doi: 10.1007/s00520-009-0699-y. Epub 2009 Jul 23. Support Care Cancer. 2010. PMID: 19629538
-
Colorectal Cancer and Quality of Life: A Medicare Advantage Study by Race, Ethnicity, and Language.J Surg Oncol. 2025 Jun;131(7):1373-1383. doi: 10.1002/jso.28005. Epub 2025 Jan 13. J Surg Oncol. 2025. PMID: 39801360
-
Health-Related Quality of Life during Chemoradiation in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: Impacts and Ethnic Disparities.Cancers (Basel). 2019 Aug 28;11(9):1263. doi: 10.3390/cancers11091263. Cancers (Basel). 2019. PMID: 31466306 Free PMC article.
-
Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment and quality of life after localized prostate cancer radiotherapy in elderly patients.PLoS One. 2018 Apr 9;13(4):e0194173. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194173. eCollection 2018. PLoS One. 2018. PMID: 29630602 Free PMC article.
Publication types
MeSH terms
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources